The Draft Show: Damaged Goods?

Date: February 12, 2026
Podcast: The Draft Show (DallasCowboys.com)
Hosts: Kyle Yeomans, Voch Lombardi, Bobby Belt, Tommy Yarish
Main Theme: Navigating draft strategies, medical uncertainties, and “win-now” needs for the Cowboys (and the NFL) as the 2025 NFL Draft looms—with a deep dive on prospects with injury “red flags,” positional debates, and day three steals.

Episode Overview

With just 10 weeks remaining before the 2025 NFL Draft, the crew debates one of the cycle's oldest quandaries: how much risk can teams tolerate with “damaged goods” prospects—those with significant injury histories? The conversation zooms in on the evolving consensus regarding first-round corners, decision-making between high-upside developmental players vs. immediate contributors, ideal trade-down strategies, and prospects who might fall through the cracks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Draft Approaches: Pressure and Uncertainty

• Countdown to Draft (00:21): Kyle frames the episode with just 10 weeks left until the draft, noting the sense of urgency, particularly with the Cowboys holding two first-round picks.
• Voch on how having two first rounders increases the complexity, “It can be any one of 15 people now that you got to kind of like do some homework on, some deep dive on...making me feel like I don't have enough time.” (01:08)
• Tommy stresses the importance of the Combine for “narrowing down a lot of these guys” and how many prospects don't climb draft boards until after teams see the medicals, interviews, and numbers (01:37).

Stock on “Damaged Goods”: Cornerback Dilemma

Delane vs. McCoy (02:16 - 05:02)

• Voch highlights how Combine interviews and medicals dramatically shape boards—citing A.D. Mitchell “got taken off the board of some people because of combine interviews.”
• Corner trend: All-Star Game and league chatter is rapidly making Mansour Delane the favorite over Jerma McCoy, despite previous consensus. “Delane above McCoy. Delane, above McCoy...you're probably reflecting what the league is chattering, which is Delane will go first.” (03:02)
• Bobby asks if healthy medicals at the Combine could put McCoy back atop; the consensus is “no,” given concerns with year-long injury absences:
  “It's so hard to just say, let me take a guy who hasn't played football in a year.” (Voch, 04:30)
• Voch and Kyle recall Pennix’s surprising top-10 selection despite knee issues—concluding “anything’s possible”—but skepticism on McCoy’s upside without immediate health assurances.

Where Does He Land? (06:22)

• Tommy calls his shot: “He’s going 13 to the Rams. That makes way too much sense.” (07:23)
• Reasoning:
  • The Rams can give McCoy a gentle “on ramp” back, not needing year-one production.
  • Cowboys “can’t afford any” such gambles (07:28).
  • “The Rams...have the capability to say...we want you to take your time and get to 100%.”

History Repeats? Will Johnson/Caleb Farley Parallels

• Bobby likens it to Will Johnson the year prior, who dropped due to injuries but played well as a rookie.
  “Wouldn't this be a reason for us to go, hey man, don't let this Will Johnson thing happen again? Jamal McCoy is much [better] than Will Johnson.” (08:01)
• Voch cautions, “Closer comp for McCoy's situation is Caleb Farley...who did not work out” due to injuries (08:42).

Draft Philosophy: “Win Now” vs. High Upside

Dallas’ Team Timeline (10:06)

• Voch’s Hypothetical: Would you rather take high-upside, developmental prospects who make you elite in three years, or immediate contributors who make you “good” now?
• Consensus:
  • Cowboys need to “cover those bases in free agency” and “draft two guys that are ready to go” (Tommy, 10:56).
  • “If my last name was Jones, I’m thinking more about...Dak and his top tier play right now than...down the line. I’m looking for the high floor dudes.” (Bobby, 11:50)
• Kyle: These picks will “tell you exactly where the Jones family...is leaning”—drafting developmental guys signals a long-term focus, immediate contributors signal “win now.” (13:10)
• Illustrations:
  • Tyler Smith was thought to need time, but was “ready to go” (14:01).
  • “Sometimes how we look at them as being raw...these teams may go [the opposite].”

Draft Slot Value and “Upside” (14:46)

• “I'm kind of weird about these super ceiling upside guys early. I'll take them late. But if I'm picking you at 12, man, I want to feel so great about your year one. Caleb Downs is that example for me.” (Bobby, 14:59)
• Downs reportedly is viewed by some scouts as “the best safety prospect [they've] ever evaluated.” (15:06)

Combine Invitations & Notable Omissions (17:09)

• 319 prospects invited; a few notable exclusions:
  • Jaden Ott (RB, Oklahoma): Surprising to Kyle, but Voch reasons that teams “probably...got a handle on him” due to age, transfers, and sufficient prior exposure (19:02).
  • Others: Mark Gronowski (QB, Iowa), Tyron Montgomery (WR, John Carroll), Noah Thomas (WR, Georgia), James Brockermeyer (OL, Alabama). Reasons cited include stacked position groups and lack of on-field tape.

Twitter on the 20: Listener Questions and Rapid Fire Analysis

Fourth-Round Targets if Day Two Is Quiet (26:06)

• Tommy:
  • Chandler Rivers (CB, Duke) – ideal nickel fit.
  • Kieran Crawford (OLB, Auburn) – super athlete, standout at Senior Bowl.
• Voch: Wonders if flexible “tweener” types like Keonte Scott (Miami) could slide like Desmond King did.
• Bobby:
  • Edge targets: Derek Moore (Michigan), Zion Young (Missouri), Josh Josephs (Tennessee).
  • On Jake Goldie (LB, Cincinnati): Range of grades, could slip to day three but probably gone earlier.

Value Pick Differences at #12 vs #20 (30:59)

• Bobby’s “sick” picks:
  • Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee): “Don't like it at 12, but you'd be cool at 20.”
  • Cassius Howes (pass rusher).
• Voch: Mezador (DL)—awkward at 12, good value at 20.
• “Most of the players are guys that I might feel a little awkward about at 12, but better about at 20.” (Voch, 31:54)
• Consensus: More value in trading down from 12 than from 20 due to draft tier drop-offs.

Possible Quarterback Trade-Up Scenarios (34:11):

• Tommy speculates Ty Simpson (QB, Alabama) could be a team’s “post-Combine riser.”
• Teams like the Rams, Vikings, Jets could get aggressive for a QB—making Dallas’s #12 spot ripe for a trade-down if a run starts there.
• Random mock: Sonny Styles to DAL at 12, Cassius Howell at 20—seen as a “slam dunk” scenario (36:24).

The Trinidad Chambliss Situation (36:47)

• Struggles with eligibility (legal dispute over extra year at Ole Miss).
• Draft impact: Limited tape, only one SEC season, probably a day three grade, but could rise due to positional scarcity.
• Voch: “He's interesting...Older prospect, limited experience. It's a risk.”
• Kyle: “I have him in the fourth, but QB runs can push him up.”

Scouting Reports: New Film & Fresh Takes (43:55+)

Chris Brazell II (WR, Tennessee) [Bobby, 44:10]

• Strengths: Size, speed, hands, catch radius
• Weakness: Incredibly simple route tree—over 48% go routes or hitches (45:45)
• “His biggest selling point is I run slants, goes and hits, and my biggest plays are me running past people.”
• Parallels drawn to Jalin Hyatt: Elite athlete, but NFL will have to develop route skills.

AR Mason Thomas (Edge, Oklahoma) [Tommy, 47:15]

• Undersized but strong and smart; “really quick off the line...high ceiling” if schemed right
• “Closer late in games...step up in those big hit sacks when you need them.”
• Graded around #20 on most boards—would be fine value at pick #20.

Kyle Lewis (Hybrid LB/S, Pitt) [Voch, 48:54]

• Fluid athlete in coverage, “Shaq Thompson vibes,” but real issues disengaging from blocks/run fits.
• “A really good versatile piece...run and chase will probably at the next level.”

LT Overton (Edge, Alabama) [Bobby, 50:03]

• Underwhelming; lacks tools, counters, and production in Senior Bowl; best in a 5-tech/odd front
• Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State), on the other hand, was praised for anchoring and fit in outside-zone teams.

Mike Washington Jr. (RB, Arkansas) [Tommy, 51:42]

• Physical, immediate accelerator; “finishes through the end of plays”; led SEC in YPC at 6.4
• Major red flag: 10 career fumbles (52:33)
• “I just can't put anybody who had 10 fumbles” high, but production and traits are clear.

Sleeper Quarterback Debate: Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) [Voch, 54:41]

• Voch is notably high on him—“so natural...real chance to be that quarterback...a Pro Bowl type player down the line.”
• Biggest knocks: Undersized, sometimes reckless/cocky throws—17 picks in two years—but “context” of tough LSU situation relevant.
• “When I stand there and I watch him read a defense and I watch him throw the football, sometimes he doesn't make the best decisions...but there are some really special NFL throws on his tape.” (55:23)
• Consensus: Early 2nd (Voch), high 3rd (Kyle), “work to do but real upside.”

Caleb Banks (DL, Louisville/Kentucky): Enormous, raw, “supernaturally gifted,” but “doesn’t know how to play D-line yet.” (60:14) Tommy: late 2nd round grade, Bobby: “not drafting in the trees.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There's always some Caleb Farleys for every Will Johnson!” – Voch (08:42)
• On Tyler Smith: “Was thought of being a guy who...would take two to three years. And he was ready to go.” – Voch (14:01)
• “I'm kind of weird about these super ceiling upside guys early. I'll take them late...If I'm picking you at 12, man, I want to feel so great about your year one. Caleb Downs is that example for me.” – Bobby (14:46)
• “Some of these guys you watch every year...you can get into the ins and outs...or you just be like, man, that's just a good football player.” – Tommy on Caleb Downs (16:21)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:21 — Show opens, urgency around two first-round picks
• 02:16–05:02 — Combine effect; Delane over McCoy; risk assessments at CB
• 06:22–07:28 — McCoy to Rams theory; why Dallas can’t risk him at #12
• 08:42–10:05 — Parallels to historic injury gambles (Farley, Johnson, etc.)
• 10:06–14:46 — Cowboys' “win now” vs. development debate and impact of pick value
• 14:46–15:38 — The mystery (and hype) of Caleb Downs
• 17:09–21:53 — Combine invite snubs and rationale
• 26:26–28:54 — Fourth-round dream targets
• 30:59–32:39 — Players you love at 20 but not at 12; trade-down logic
• 34:11–36:37 — QB run trade-up scenarios (Ty Simpson, Simpson/Rams scenario)
• 36:47–40:46 — Trinidad Chambliss eligibility saga; QB draft strategies
• 43:55–54:10 — Scouting rapid-fire: WR, EDGE, LB/S, RB deep dives
• 54:41–59:53 — Garrett Nussmeier sleeper debate
• 60:05–61:13 — Caleb Banks discussion

Tone & Style

The show is loose, collegiate, and highly conversational, with frequent friendly banter and teasing between hosts. Humor and candid opinion are hallmarks (“He’ll end up like Jalin Hyatt…I got him in the fourth…”), and the crew openly admits to differing draft philosophies and grading approaches: “Team suck at drafting, you never know.”

TL;DR

With 10 weeks remaining until the NFL Draft and two Cowboys first-rounders, the staff dive into the “damaged goods” dilemma—debating risk/reward on injured prospects (especially at corner), the value of high floor/‘ready now’ guys vs. high-ceiling projects, and the major role of the Combine in clarifying the draft picture. Fan questions spur analysis on fourth round steals, “awkward at 12 but awesome at 20” picks, and how the Cowboys' choices will signal their competitive priorities for 2026–2027.

Most Memorable Quote:

“I'm kind of weird about these super ceiling upside guys early. I'll take them late...If I'm picking you at 12, man, I want to feel so great about your year one.” – Bobby Belt (14:46)

Top Takeaways:

• Medicals and interviews at the Combine will be “make or break” for key prospects.
• Cowboys are (and should be) in “win-now” mode—expect fewer big gambles.
• There’s lots of ‘awkward’ value at 12; flexibility to trade down from that slot makes sense.
• Several prospects (McCoy, Nussmeier, Washington Jr.) divide the room on risk, upside, and value.

For Cowboys fans and draft nerds: this episode offers direct, inside-the-war-room logic and lively prospect debate—with a healthy appreciation for the unpredictable “team suck at draft” factor.